Hello all, here is the situation: I will be studying in Chengdu this fall semester (August-December). My spring semester will be in either Shanghai or Beijing, but the thing is, it doesn't start until February. I do not want to go back, so the idea of studying and improving my kung fu in China seemed like a good choice. I do not want to go to schools that are basically tourist traps and are super expensive and fake. Which is why I turn to the wisdom of the MAP community, do you have any advice or recommendations you can give me? I really appreciate it. Thanks.
Depends where you are and what you want to do. While you're in Chengdu you could make enquiries about training at Emei. Alternatively I'm training here next month www.wudanggongfu.com . The rates are reasonable, and controversy about Wudang kung fu aside, their kung fu is very good. If you want some of the less flambouyant northern systems, then this guy is good http://www.freewebs.com/jingangbashi/ , he's in Tianjin. You could try contacting Wu Chanlong here http://www.satirio.com/ma/home.html , he's got a lot of smaller mainland contacts.
Thanks thakns a lot, this is definately a start, i have one month and a half to travel, so location isnt an issue, i just want to make sure i am learning good kung fu and not some watered down stuff for tourists, your links are very helpful thank you. Also, what controversies are there about wudang kung fu
The watered down stuff isn't only for tourists. I was just talking to my friend (he's a foreign exchange students from China who's lived there from age 0-17) and he told me that martial arts families in China don't want to teach you their kung fu. In China, apparently, the concept of keeping knowledge within the family is very important, and teachers will almost never pass down greater secrets of the trade to anyone but their descendants.
I too am looking for training in China. Specifically, I want to find a San Da gym in Shanghai. It's a pretty big city, so I'm sure I can find at least one or two. ^_~
if you would like to train in the Cangzhou area, I can help you out. Baji, Pigua, Liuhe, Mizong, Cha quan, etc.... But this is not in schools. You have to stay at the teachers home. ( are retired teachers) If you want more info , just send me a pm
Hey, Ben that looks like some ok places to train at. Good luck, Ben. The thing is even if you do hsing yi, bagua, or taiji. It can be applied in fighting in stand up fighting. It is different than what people do. Don't buy the hype about the systems. The way to punch fast using a style of plyometrics, I learned from a Wudan guy. I never studied the style of Wudan myself. While I do study the three internals, it is not from a Wudan teacher.
Dunno about Chengdu, but while you're in Beijing if you can, I'd just go to Tian Tan Park. Chen Zhen Lei's nephew teaches on the South Gate Road there. I believe there's good bagua (Yin Fu) up in the NE Corner area. Taiji is everywhere. I even saw an older guy (read... older than my parents) doing Tan Tui & some kind of long fist there too. Dunno that much about Shaghai.
If you're up Beijing way you will most definitely want to check out some of the Shuai Chiao schools up there. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IjmnMaCk2Y"]Shuai Jiao - YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daJkuZUdf8Q&feature=related"]Shuaijiao technique by Master Wang Wenyong - YouTube[/ame] These top two are students of Master Wang Wenyong - who I believe is up in the Beijing area. Not sure if he takes on western students.. or if you're up for this rigorous level of training... make no mistake these boys are hardcore... you could do a lot worse than to train with this standard. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhALaS1DlZg"]YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg71GiyumvM&feature=related"]Beijing shuai chiao 3 - YouTube[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUSQQozBc68&feature=related"]Wrestling in Beijing - YouTube[/ame]
You could also contact the guy who's posted these vids via YouTube (Ashwix) he's a westerner who's training up in Beijing and will usually answer questions posted to him. His vids posted are very interesting: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XWRGeP5mY&feature=related"]Beijing Style Shuaijiao/Wrestling - YouTube[/ame] http://www.youtube.com/user/ashwix And this seems to be his website/blog... well worth looking at.. some very cool stuff here!!! http://shuaijiao.tv/
if i were you and you have the time i would check out sifu frank yee's hung ga camp in toisan (tai shan). i have seen his students compete and they are very good both in forms and fighting. http://yeeshungga.com/china/2006_intensive_prog_flyer.pdf this is the yee's hung ga main web page. http://www.yeeshungga.com/home.html
i also know a guy from a different forum that teaches kung fu in cheng du and i am trying to get his information. i am not sure what style he teaches but i will let you know as soon as i hear back from him.
